There is always plenty to choose from. Photo: Supplied.
If you’re travelling along the Kings Highway this long weekend, you might want to allow extra time for your pit stop at Braidwood.
The Braidwood Book Fair is on again – with stacks of preloved treasures to sift through within the historic surroundings of the National Theatre.
“We find that people pop in on their way to the coast and pick up their reading material for the long weekend or to leave at their holiday homes,” long-time member of the Book Fair committee, Marjorie Lemin said.
Ms Lemin has been involved for 25 years and says the range of donations is one of the fair’s biggest drawcards.
“It never ceases to amaze us – the variety that comes into us,” she said. “Donations come from locals, but also from visitors who have relatives in the area – people from the coast, Sydney and beyond.”
The event offers thousands of books for readers of all ages, including a substantial kids’ corner where children can browse to their heart’s content and maybe even spend some pocket money.
A wide range of DVDs and CDs, puzzles, records and other treasures are also on offer.
“Sometimes we receive donated books which are quite rare and special,” said Marjorie. “We try to find a price on the internet and pop a note in the book, so people have a starting point. But we’ll negotiate a price, because we like people to get little bargains and lovely surprises.”
Running for more than 30 years, the fair began as a church fundraising initiative but has since evolved into a community-wide fundraiser providing vital support to the area.
Volunteers help run the event, with the proceeds shared among those participating community groups – including the Rural Fire Service, the Braidwood & District Education Foundation, Braidwood Life Centre, Braidwood Scouts, and the local theatre group.
“The money raised goes back into the community,” said Marjorie. “For example, the Education Foundation provides scholarships to the kids who leave here and go off to university, to help them during their first year; and the Braidwood Life Centre provides essential services to people in need in our community.”
While raising much-needed funds to benefit the entire community, the event provides holiday commuters a great opportunity to turn their regular stop-off into something more exciting.
“It’s one of Braidwood’s biggest events, so it helps the whole town, really – with lots of extra people stopping in and taking a little stroll up the street. There are plenty of lovely coffee shops, dress shops and homewares stores. Braidwood is such a beautiful historic town, so just walking around and enjoying the heritage buildings is always interesting.”
One of the oldest European settlements in inland NSW, Braidwood was the first to be given historical status. Its colonial architecture and rustic charm have made it a popular filming location for Australian cinema, including the 1970 film Ned Kelly, featuring Mick Jagger.
“They used a lot of different buildings throughout the town – it was a source of great excitement!” said Marjorie. “A lot of the locals were actually the extras running around in the back of the scenes, so they can all say, ‘I was in a movie with Mick Jagger!’”
Whether you’re a film buff, architecture aficionado, seasoned book hunter or just looking for a unique long weekend activity, the Braidwood Book Fair is worth adding to your itinerary. With something for everyone, it’s a wonderful way to support the local community while bagging a bargain for yourself.
“We want people to enjoy their day out in Braidwood and walk away with something they’re going to really enjoy and treasure.”
The Braidwood Book Fair is on Friday 6 to Monday 9 June at the National Theatre, Wallace Street, Braidwood.
